It is well worth celebrating, the kite that launched thousands of hours of amazing sessions around the world.

Cabrinha rider Damo LeRoy helps out.

This is what Cabrinha says about the 2015 model:
"After ten years of refinement, the Switchblade kite from Cabrinha is held as the benchmark for which all crossover/freeride
kites must aspire to. Its success lies in its uncommon blend of high performance and ease of use. The Switchblade will easily crossover
from freeriding to freestyle to surf on any given day. The common element in each of these riding styles is precise handling; and
this is where the Switchblade shines. The Switchblade provides maximum control with a light bar touch. The SB’s high performance
profiles deliver the power needed in light winds and the ability to dump the power in strong winds. This gives the SB the type of range
needed to extend your sessions when the winds are up and down. The five strut design holds the canopy true to its shape regardless
of the wind condition or angle of attack."

Steve Negen of MacKites who also attended the dealer meeting described things well:
"The Switchblade is the ultimate freeride / crossover kite that all freeride kiteboarding kites aspire to. The Cabrinha Switchblade
offers the best of both worlds – High performance and ease of use for all levels of riders. The ability to jump from one discipline to
another makes it the perfect kite for almost any rider. Go kite surfing, boost big or throw down technical pro style moves – the
Swithclbade will get you there. How does the Swithcblade do this? Precise handling – this is the key feature in the 2015 Cabrinha
Switchblade that allows you to ride all styles of riding from freeride to free style to surf. The 2015 will give you maximum control
with only a light touch of the bar. The Switchblades profile provides that low end grunt you want in light winds but still gives you
incredible ability to release power when the winds increase. One Switchblade kite often has the wind range of 2 other kites because
of it unique ability to get you going in light winds and still depower into the high winds. We love the five strut design for the rock
solid stability of the canopy in all winds and whether the kite is powered up or not.

What we love

Largest wind range of any kite we carry
Ease of use – from beginner to advanced – you just can’t miss
Big hang time – boost it up and stay up
Low end power – get going when everyone else is watching.
Best new bar for 2015 – totally revamped chicken loop for ease of use"

When you go exploring, you want something you're both familiar and comfortable with, that can cover a wide range of conditions.

It is my favorite swamp-going kite.

A ten year look back at the amazing Switchblade kite followed by designer notes.

Life isn't all about wind, no seriously, someone told me that once?

… or gold coins, even shiny plastic ones. There are many things that go into a well rounded life. Still, fine kiting gear is
near the top for some of us.

Moving on to an excellent kite for surfing and surf free style, the Drifter.

Pete Cabrinha shows what this kite can do in the waves.

This is what Cabrinha Kites has to say about the drifter:
"The Drifter surf kite is a kite with a purpose. This kite is dead set on being there for you when you need it and getting out of the way
when you don’t. You see, kite surfing is an act of taking power from the kite when you need it and dumping the power altogether
when you don’t. This high depower kite allows the rider to drop in, accelerate, then dump the power completely to snap or carve their
turns. It delivers a perfect blend of the best elements of surfing and kitesurfing. The Drifter’s special design allows it to drift downwind
and stay aloft even when the lines are slackened. This phenomenon, first developed by Cabrinha is known as drift stability."

No waves off Old Bahama Bay but Pete makes it all look mighty fine anyway.

The Drifter allows this marvelous slack line drift, taking the kite force temporarily out of action nicely parked, until you need it again.

Pete pops a nice strapless jump off Maui in monochrome.

An overview of the Drifter followed by designer notes.

It was excellent to spend time with Pete Cabrinha, designers and staff in a great water setting to learn about the new kiting equipment.

There are still a number of full sized traction kites to present. In the interim I wanted to mention Cabrinha's nice new trainer kite, the Genesis. It comes in a 2 m size and without battens. It is intended to give a scaled down traction kite feel with normal depower while allowing the full functionality of the 1x control bar for students.

Damo strolls by on the way to kite out with his Croatian mega-jump gadget. Designed by a Croat plumber looking for a better way to clear clogs (and not a school teacher like Airborne).